Time for Grandpa’s Wisdom Wednesday!

(This one’s for all of us trying to protect space for our best ideas.)

“Hey Little One, great adventures begin in quiet places. Dream first—then invite others along” —Grandpa

This week, Grandpa’s words hit a little closer to home. I’ve had a handful of important creative projects waiting for my attention—and despite my best intentions, I let collaboration sneak in before giving my imagination the quiet space it needed to breathe.

From calendar pings to calls to quick “do you have a sec?” chats—collaboration can be essential, but it can easily crowd out the quiet space where the best ideas first take root.

That’s why I keep reminding myself of a simple principle:

Create Before Collaborate.

Whether planning a presentation, outlining a new Macieverse story, or working on our brand growth strategy for Access to Fresh, I’ve found that the best ideas come when I make space for stillness—before inviting others in.

The ideas that matter most usually start in silence—with a blank page, a fresh walk, or a deep breath…or my favorite, riding the bike at the gym.. And once those ideas feel grounded, it’s time to bring others in—to shape, expand, and grow together. Because when we make time to dream before we build, we don’t just spark creativity— we invite others into something with purpose.

So here’s our gentle nudge from Grandpa today:

Protect your quiet time.

Let the ideas rise.

And then… invite others along for the ride.

And here’s one more bit of wisdom I’ve put into practice lately…

I start my day with a simple “exit list.” Before I leave my room each morning, I make sure I know the few things I need to focus on first—like writing Grandpa’s Wisdom Wednesday today, before my whirlwind begins.

Peter Contardo